Manufacture of tetrachlorethylene



Patented July 15, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT orrics I A, 2.24am I a 5.... ZSZTKZTTEI... M...

Munich-Grosshesselohe,

Germany, assigno Consortium fur Elektroehemische Indnstrie G.

m. b. 11., Munich, Germany, a corporation of Germany No Drawing. Application August 1, 1938, Serial No. 222,564. In Germany August 10, 1931 This application relates to the manufacture of tetrachlorethylene, a chemical compound having the formula CCl2=CClz. More particularly, it'

the catalyst is ineffective under these conditions and the process is seriously interfered with.

when the product of the reaction is subsequently distilled during its recovery a substantial part of the aluminum chloride distllls over with the product, thus furtherencrusting the apparatus and increasing the impurities present in the desired product.

It has now been found that these disadvantages are entirely'eliminated and there is also secured a substantial saving in the amount of catalyst necessary, accompanied by better utilization of the reaction space, by employing a simple continuous method of preparation leading directly to a very pure product. Accordingly, it is one of the objects of this invention to prepare tetrachlorethylene from pentachlorethane by heating the latter inv the presence of aluminum chloride by continuous methods wherein a product of a high degree of purity is obtained. Other objects of thisinvention are the elimination of wastage of catalyst as the result of encrustation of portions of'the apparatus, as well as better and more efflcient utilization of the reaction space. These and still other objects of this invention will be apparent from the ensuing disclosure of a preferred embodiment thereof.

The reaction apparatus preferably comprises a flask which can be'heated to which is attached a Operating in accordance withthis procedure,

most substantially free of aluminum chloride. The concentration of the aluminum chloride is maintained substantially constant in the flask and the catalyst remains activeas it is'not conl taminated by the small amounts of impurities,

such as water, which are normally present. The

reaction is much more rapid than the batch methods known to the prior art and better utilization of the reaction space and catalyst, as comfractionation column. The flask is filled to adesired level with pentachlorethane or, preferably.

' with tetrachlorethylene. A small amount of aluminum chloride (substantially 1.5%) is then placed in the flask. Pentachlorethane is continuously passed into the flask which is meanwhile heated to the boiling temperature. The rate of heating and reflux are so regulated that pure tetrachlorethylene and hydrogen chloride gas escape from the dephlegmator. The rate of 1 pentachlorethane addition is so regulated that the level of liquid is maintained substantially eonstantintheflask.

pared with. the. older processes, is secured.

As an example of the improved method for the continuous manufacture of tetrachlorethylene from pentachlorethane the following may be given: I

Example 16 kg. of tetrachlorethylene and -0.5 kg. of aluminum chloride were placed in a flaskhaving a' capacity of 20 liters. There was attached to this flask a fractionatlng column provided with a dephlegmator. The flask was heated until boiling no aluminum chloride deposits occur in the f column. The tetrachlorethylene secured is aloccurred. Thereupon, pentachlorethane at the I rate of '10 kg. per hour was continuously introduced in a uniform stream into the The resulting tetrachlorethylene passed over together i with the hydrogen'chlorlde in a'state almost substantially free from aluminum chloride catalyst. At the start of operations thetemperature of the flask was substantially C. V

After operation for some time, owing to a small amount of water present inthe pentachlorethane or as a result of'the presence of small amounts of other impurities a partof the catalyst became gradually decomposed. This retarded the re-- action. The evolved stream ofhydrogen chloride became less in quantity and pentachlorethane accumulated in the flask. This resulted in e1e,-'

vation of the temperature of the contents of the I flask; When the contents of the flask reached a temperature of Cuafter operation for ap-.'

proximately 3 hours additional aluminum chloride in the amount of 0.5 kg. was added. The evolution of hydrogen chloride and production of tetra chlorethylene commenced again at substantially the previous rate. The column was free from deposits of any of the material andno substantial loss in the'amount of aluminum chloride present was observed.

In place of'aluminum chloride, it is also p ossible to use metallic aluminum which is quickly converted to aluminum chloride by reaction with the pentachlorethane;

It should be understood that the foregoing do;

- hi1; em as illustrative of the preferred embodiment of this improved process should not be regarded-as restrictive but only as illustrative. As many changes may be made in the procedure as described, the invention is not to be limited 4 to precise detafls or operation but is to be construed in accordance with the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A process for preparing tetrachlorethylene V which comprises continuously introducing pentachlorethane into a liquid bath comprising essentially tetrachiorethyiene, pentachiorethane and aluminum chloride as a catalyst, said bath being maintained at a temperature above the boiling 2,249,512 point of tetrachlorethylene, and withdrawing the resulting tetrachlorethylene and evolved hydrogen chloride-directly subsequent to their formation. y I e 2. A process for the preparation of tetrachlorethyiene which comprises continuously introducing pentachlorethane into a boiling mixture oi tetrachlorethylene and aluminum chloride, the" 01! directly subsequent to their 

